Wire-clamp.



No. 734,580. PATBN'I ED JULY 28, l903- D. LOGKHART. I

WIRE CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1903.

I N0 MODEL.

No. 734,586. V

UNITED STATES Patented July 28,1963.

PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID LOOKHART, or noouiAlu, WASHINGTON,

WIRE-CLAMFX.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 734,580, uateauulyae-ieoa;

- Application filed A ruzs. 1903.

$0 on whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID LOOKHART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hoquiam, in the county of Chehalis and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Wire- Clamp, of which the following is a specification. r

This invention relates to devices employed for clamping wires or small rods or cables and .may be employed for various purposes and is a side elevation from one side, showing the clamping-jaws distended. Fig. 2 is a side elevation from the opposite side with the clamping-jaws closed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.

The improved device consists of a head member (indicated as a whole at having an intermediate offset 11, whereby one of the faces at one end 12 is inalinement with the opposite face 13 at the other end, as indicated in Fig.3. Pivotally connected at 14: 15 to the inner face of the part 12 of the head member are two oppositely-disposed clamp-lever arms 16 17, curving inwardly when in their withdrawn position and partially encompassing the parts 11 13 of the head memberandin transverse alin'ement-with the end 13, as shown. The arms 16 17 are provided with studs 18 19, extending from their free ends. The arms 16 17 are formed with inwardlyprojecting gripping-jaws 2O 21, having their adjacent faces conca'ved and serrated or not, as may bepreferred, and projecting from the arms 16 17 and extending over the opposite side of the portion 12 of the head member are Serial No; 154,354. (No model.)

two otheropposing jaw members 22 23, likewise with their adjacent faces oppositely concaved, each of the two sets of gripping-jaws adapted to enclasp the wire between them.

It will be noted that the gripping-jaw members 20 21 are relatively near the pivots14 15, so that the nip will be short and powerful,

while the grip members 22 23 are at a greater distance fromthe pivot-points, with the" nip correspondingly longer and "less powerful. The shorter nip will generally be employed for grasping the larger wires or rods or cables, which require a stronger grip, while the longer nip will be employed for smaller wires, which require a less powerful grip. Thus the implement may be quickly adapted to the work required of it, as hereinafter more fully explained.

Pivotally connected at 2 1 25 to the rear end of the portion 13 of the head member are two levewarms 26 27, having longitudinal slots 28 29,"respectively engaging the studs 18 19 on the clamp-arms 16 17 and connected at their free ends to a ring 30 by links 31 32, as shown.

By this simple arrangement it will beobvi ous that a strain exerted upon the ring 30 will powerfully"compress/the lever-arms 26- 27 and cause them to transmit that force'with incrasedpower to'the arms 16 17, which in turn will compress'any object which may be placed between the jaw members 20 2lor 22 23 with increased force. By this means the pull upon the ring 30 is multiplied by the system of levers before it reaches the grippingjaws.

The instrument may be constructed simply and inexpensively, while at the same time exerting a very powerfulgrip upon the wireor cable. t

The implement may be employed'i'or" any purpose for which such implements are usu ally employedsuch as stringing fence-wires, telegraph or telephone wires, and the like and will also be found ,Very useful in spn ing wire cables in drawing the strand-wires through the apertures formed therein by the marlinespikes.

Ido not, however, wish to be limited in any manner in the use of the implement for any and means'for forcibly compressing said slotted lever-arms, substantially as specified.

2. Awire-clamp consisting of a head member, opposing clamp-levers pivotally connected at one end to said head member and with studs extending from their free ends, oppositely-disposed grip-jaws extending from said clamp-levers intermediately thereof, lever-arms pivotally connected to the other end of said head member and provided with longitudinal slots movably engaging said studs, and means for forcibly compressing said slotted lever-arms, substantially as specified.

3. A Wire-clamp consisting of a head member, opposing clamp levers pivotally connected at one end to said head member and with studs extending from their free ends, oppositely-disposed grip-jaws extending from said clamp-levers upon opposite sides of said head member intermediately thereof, one pair of said jaw members comparatively near the pivoted end of said clamp-levers and the other pair of said jaw members comparatively remote from said pivoted ends of said clamplevers, lever-arms pivotally connected to the other end of said head member and provided with longitudinal slots movably engaging said studs, and means for forcibly compressing said slotted lever-arms, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

DAVID LOCKHART.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM C. RENIE, CHARLEY BEALL. 

